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Climate scientists report drought threatens forests

Forest scientists report in the journal Nature that 70% of tree species in a worldwide sample are drought-intolerant. Here, the dead trunk of one such species, a Fagus sylvatica tree (beech). Hervé Cochard

An air embolism in a narrow water transporting cell in a leaf of a walnut tree captured using light microscopy. Drought stress increases the likelihood of embolism, reduces photosynthesis, and may eventually lead to plant death. Hervé Cochard (INRA, Clermont-Ferrand, France)

Fagus sylvatica (beech) tree photographed during winter in the forest of Allagnat (France). Drought vulnerability will partly decide whether this species will vanish in forests due to climate change. Hervé Cochard (INRA, Clermont-Ferrand, France)

Transverse stem section of a 4-year old Oak species (Quercus crispula) showing functional water-transporting cells (red) in the current (4) and previous (3) growth rings, while water conducting cells in the first two rings are embolised (air-filled). Yuzou Sano (Hokkaido University, Japan)